Bonhams Knightsbridge
(London) is set to auction some major Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes items
belonging to her daughter Frieda Hughes in their Fine Books and Manuscripts
auction on 21 March 2018.
Interest in Plath has been at a fever pitch of late. For example, Bonhams has
overseen several other auctions in the last few years of typescripts,
photographs, and books 15
November 2017[results]; 15
June 2016 [results]; 16
March 2016 [results]; 11
November 2015 [results]).
And, off course, in the last year the world was given The Letters of
Sylvia Plath, Volume 1940-1956. The second volume is due out on 6 September
2018 (Faber, the same day, by the way, that the paperback of Volume 1 will be
published) and on 30 October (HarperCollins).
When asked in an
interview last year with Liz Jones, "Is she careful or careless of her
heritage?" Frieda Hughes alluded to a cache of materials saying "I am
careful. I have letters, writing, photos that no one has seen
yet." Jones followed up: "Will these be donated to a museum?"
Frieda's response was"No! I'm going to sell them!"
And sell them she is.
The 108 lots of the Bonhams sale are items that Frieda Hughes inherited from
Plath directly or via Ted Hughes as executor of Plath's Estate; items that she
inherited more recently from her aunt, the late Olwyn Hughes; some she
inherited from her brother, the late Nicholas Hughes; and items given directly
to her from Ted Hughes at various points in her life. There are books from
Plath's and Hughes's library, typescripts, photographs, jewelry, clothing,
furniture and other objects from Court Green, and miscellaneous things such as
Plath's membership and identification cards to various places. This auction
will have massive interest to libraries and archives and to private collectors,
alike. Is this all Frieda Hughes has? Even if the answer is yes, the volume of
the items in this Bonhams auction is unparalleled in its cultural importance
and we may possibly never see another like it again in our lifetime. Unless we
do!
In an email to me, Luke
Batterham, Senior Valuer, Books, Maps and Manuscripts at Bonhams, wrote to say
"The collection will sell as part of our regular sale, but be a separate
catalogue" which will be available for purchase. Official preview days for
the auction are 18-20 March, and arrangements can be made with Bonhams before
the 18th if interested parties are unavailable those days.
Lot 301 PLATH (OTTO)
Studio portrait of Otto
Plath, half-length, by Bachrach, platinum print, on original mount, signed by
the photographer lower right, image 160 x 115mm., [1924]; together with a copy
of Otto Plath's Bumblebees and Their Ways 1934 (2)
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 302 PLATH (SYLVIA)
A fine and decorative
coloured pencil drawing of flowers and birds, with accompanying autograph poem
"Spring Madrigal", inscribed "To Daddy" and signed
"Sylvia", coloured pencil on paper, with 4-line poem, signed by 280 x
215mm., [6 September 1940]
£8,000 - 12,000
€9,100 - 14,000
"Daddy &
his nurse - Oct.7, 1940 by Sylvia", two pencil drawings depicting Sylvia's
father Otto lying with an outsized swollen foot in his sick bed, whilst a nurse
approaches, on one sheet of paper, captioned in pencil by Sylvia's mother
Aurelia (who has also added the words "his foot" to one drawing), and
with Sylvia's autograph note on reverse headed "Sylvia Need to Study"
above a list of six subjects ("Arithmetic", "Writing",
"Paino" [sic], "Darwing" [sic], "History", and
"Geography", the spelling errors corrected by her mother), 225 x
150mm., [7 October 1940]
£4,000 - 6,000
€4,600 - 6,900
Lot 304 DICKINSON
(EMILY)
Love Poems and Others, SYLVIA PLATH'S COPY, with her Wellesley School
prize label on front free endpaper, publisher's patterned boards, slipcase with
printed label on upper cover (2 joints split, slightly worn), 8vo, Mount
Vernon, NY, Peter Pauper Press, [1948?]
£1,000 - 2,000
€1,100 - 2,300
Lot 305 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
Graduation portrait
photograph of Sylvia Plath by Salvatore Simone, head and shoulders looking to
her right, gelatin silver print, loose mounted in the original card mount
(stamped "Simone" on lower margin), image 153 x 100mm., [1950]
£800 - 1,200
€910 - 1,400
Lot 306 PLATH (SYLVIA)
The Wellesleyan. The Yearbook of the Gamaliel Bradford Senior
High School, Wellesley, Massachusetts, INSCRIBED BY SYLVIA PLATH BESIDE HER
PHOTOGRAPH with a note to her close friend Patricia O'Neil, photographs and
illustrations (several relating to Plath), publisher's red cloth, slightly
rubbed, upper hinge split, 4to, [1950]
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
Lot 307 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Ink sketch of a young
woman (possibly a self-portrait), head and shoulders looking to the right, blue
ink, on blank postcard, with brief note on verso "Wear. Black suit
& coat. Take. 2 frocks. 4 [illegible] shoes", 8vo (140 x 85mm.),
[early 1950s]
£1,000 - 1,500
€1,100 - 1,700
The Holy Bible, Authorized King James Version, SYLVIA PLATH'S
ANNOTATED COPY, WITH MANY PASSAGES UNDERLINED, inscribed on the front free
endpaper "To our dear Sylvia - "understanding is the line of
demarcation between the real and unreal." S & H. 505.20-21. With
love from the Cantors, September 1, 1952, Chatham, Mass.", loosely
inserted a newspaper cutting (with photo portrait of Plath) about Plath's
winning of the "Mademoiselle" short-story competition on which Plath
has written in pencil "Christ died for you!!", publisher's cloth,
worn, upper hinge splitting, 16mo (162 x 110mm.), New York and London, The
Oxford University Press, [n.d.]
£4,000 - 6,000
€4,600 - 6,900
Lot 309 ROGET'S
THESAURUS
ROGET (PETER MARK) Thesaurus of English Words
and Phrases... New Edition, SYLVIA PLATH'S COPY, WITH UPWARDS OF 1000
WORDS UNDERLINED in black ink, and a few sections marked in the margin,
publisher's cloth, patterned (?fifties) paper laid down on
sides, crudely rebacked
in leather (see footnote), worn, 8vo, New York, Thomas Y. Cromwell Company,
[n.d.]
£1,000 - 2,000
€1,100 - 2,300
Lot 310 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
Brown leather pocket
notepad holder with pen, by Things of Fashion, metal cornerpieces, rolled gold
pen in holder, approximately 143 x 90mm.; Red leather wallet, by Lady Buxton,
loose in the wallet a onedollar coin (1899) with an accompanying note by Frieda
Hughes "Given to Sylvia Plath. Coin from Oscar Williams [American
poet]...", the wallet approximately 80 x 120mm., [1950s] (2)
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 311 ROMBAUER (IRMA
S.)
The Joy of Cooking, SYLVIA PLATH'S COPY, inscribed "Sylvia
Plath 1954" on the half-title and HEAVILY MARKED UP THROUGHOUT,
illustrations by Ginnie Hofmann, underscorings, recipes and passages of text
marked in black ink on approximately 250 pages, with annotations in Plath's
hand next to 3 recipes, and several further pencil annotations by Aurelia
Plath, a few old stains resulting in adhesion to pp.269-272, a few old tape
repairs, publisher's cloth, lacks spine, worn, 8vo, New York, The Bobbs-Merrill
Company, [1953]
£1,000 - 2,000
€1,100 - 2,300
Lot 312 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
Green leather folding
double photo frame, gilt blocked "S.P." and "June 15, 1954"
on the upper cover, slightly rubbed, 215 x 165mm., [1954]
£200 - 400
€230 - 460
Lot 313 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
Three wristwatches, belonging
to Sylvia Plath, comprising: 9K gold Resolute manual wind wristwatch; a gilt
metal Bentima manual wind wristwatch; a 9K gold manual wind wristwatch, with
leather straps, [1940s/50s] (3)
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 314 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
A yellow short-sleeved
checked dress, with label "Made in U.S.A. for Harrods, London",
[1950s]
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 315 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
A pleated green tartan
skirt, with Sylvia Plath's name tape (in blue lettering), with leather strap
and buckle, [1950s]
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 316 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
A brown sleeveless dress
with pleated skirt and waist belt, by "Thocolette" of London and
Vienna, yellow paper dry-cleaning tab, [1950s]
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 317 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
A Japanese blue
embroidered silk jacket, light blue lining, 4 toggled "frog" buttons
and mandarin collar, shoulders faded, label "Made in Japan"; a blue
collarless tunic top, damask pattern, with label "Made in Italy. Dickins
and Jones, Regent Street" (2)
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 318 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
A small group of
jewellery belonging to Plath, comprising: a copper Alice band, with a
matching pair of clip earrings; 2 further pairs of circular earrings, one blue
ceramic, one silver metal; a single triangular ceramic earring; a chased
"rolled gold" bracelet; a thin metal chain with 2 heart charms and
small ring attached, various sizes, [1950s/early 60s] (small group)
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Sylvia Plath's
"dragon" pendant and chain, with maker's stamp "Coro", base
metal, openwork Maltese Cross design flanked by two dragons, some wear,
diameter 50mm., [1950s]
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
Lot 320 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
Glazed ceramic necklace
by Alice Lund, belonging to Sylvia Plath, 26 blue triangular panels (2
chipped), impressed "Alice Lund, Danmark" on one, 420mm., [late
1950s/early 1960s]
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 321 PLATH
(SYLVIA)
Two necklaces belonging
to Sylvia Plath, comprising: a paste fringe necklace, of circular cut pastes
with suspended pear shaped forms, 385mm.; White and blue plastic floral
necklace, 385mm., with
matching earrings,
[1950s] (small group)
£300 - 400
€340 - 460
Lot 322 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Portrait of Ted Hughes,
pen and ink, on paper, head and shoulders in profile, inscribed by the sitter
on the reverse in pencil ("By Sylvia Plath/Ted Hughes"), 215 x
140mm., [1956]
£20,000 - 30,000
€23,000 - 34,000
Lot 323 DICTIONARY
The Shorter Oxford English
Dictionary, SIGNED BY BOTH SYLVIA
PLATH AND TED ("EDWARD") HUGHES on the front free endpaper, with the
date "15th December 1956. Cambridge, England" added in Hughes's hand,
along with the names and dates of birth of their two children Frieda and Nicholas,
and the young Frieda's signature below, opening leaves creased with some
scorching, publisher's cloth, very worn, upper joint split, 4to, Oxford,
Clarendon Press, [1955]
£2,000 - 4,000
€2,300 - 4,600
Lot 324 SCOTT-MAXWELL
(FLORIDA)
Women and Sometimes Men, FIRST EDITION, SYLVIA PLATH'S COPY, with
several passages underlined, notes besides two passages (see footnote) and nine
passages marked in the margin with her characteristic star symbol in blue pen,
publisher's cloth, dust-jacket (light soiling, coffee or tea splashes on upper
cover), 8vo, Routledge and Kegan Paul, [1957]
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Lot 325 HUGHES (TED)
The Hawk in the Rain, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY,
INSCRIBED TO THE DEDICATEE SYLVIA PLATH ("Written [printed: To Sylvia] and
now presented to her with all my love" on the dedication leaf, publisher's
cloth, dust-jacket (worn at extremities with small loss at head of spine with
loss to letter "T") [Sagar/Tabor A1a], 8vo, Faber and Faber, 1957
£10,000 - 15,000
€11,000 - 17,000
The Hawk in the Rain, FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION
COPY, INSCRIBED TO THE DEDICATEE SYLVIA PLATH ("[printed: To Sylvia]
because the book belongs to you just as surely as all my love does, Ted August
26th 1957", on the dedication leaf), additionally signed by Ted Hughes in
blue pen on front free endpaper, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket (light age
toning and rubbing at extremities) [Sagar/ Tabor A1b], 8vo, New York, Harper
& Brothers, [1957]
£8,000 - 12,000
€9,100 - 14,000
Lot 327 HUGHES (TED)
The Hawk in the Rain, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY TO
HIS PARENTS, INSCRIBED "With love to Mom & Dad/Ted." on the
half-title, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket (soiled with a few small tears, and
some loss to spine) [Sagar/Tabor A1a], 8vo, Faber and Faber, 1957
£800 - 1,200
€910 - 1,400
Lot 328 BASKIN (LEONARD)
'Tobias & the
Angel', wood-engraving, artist's proof signed, with PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION
"FOR SYLVIA AND TED", quite heavy browning and spotting (mostly to
upper part of image), mounted, framed and glazed [Fern and O'Sullivan 367],
image to view 428 x 430mm., [1958]
£800 - 1,200
€910 - 1,400
The Hawk in the Rain, first American edition, PRE-PUBLICATION
PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION, dated 27 August 1957, no dust-jacket [Sagar/Tabor
A1b], New York, 1957; Lupercal, PRE-PUBLICATION PRESENTATION
INSCRIPTION, dated 4 March 1960, dust-jacket soiled with small losses to spine
and corners [Sagar/Tabor A3a.1]], 1960; Meet My Folks, PRE
PUBLICATION PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION, dated 1 April 1961, dust-jacket with
sprinkled stains on lower cover [Sagar/Tabor A4a], 1961; Recklings, NUMBER 130
OF 150 COPIES, inscription dated January 1967, dust-jacket [Sagar/Tabor A10],
Turret Books, 1961; Scapegoats and Rabies, LIMITED TO APPROXIMATELY
400 COPIES, PRE-PUBLICATION INSCRIPTION, dated 1 May 1967, publisher's wrappers
[Sagar/Tabor A11], Poet & Printer, 1967; Wodwo,
PRE-PUBLICATION PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION, dated 21 April 1967, dust-jacket
[Sagar/Tabor A12a.1], 1967; Wodwo, first American edition,
dust-jacket fire-smoked [Sagar/Tabor A12a.2], New York, 1967; A Crow
Hymn, LIMITED TO 100 COPIES, inscription dated 23 March 1970, publisher's
wrappers [Sagar/Tabor A20], Farnham, Sceptre Press, 1970; The Martydom
of Bishop Farrar, first separate printing, limited to 100 copies, inscribed
"To Olwyn... 3rd March 70. For the rose, the thorn is watered",
publisher's wrappers, small stain on upper cover [Sagar/Tabor A21a.1],
Crediton, Richard Gilbertson, [1970]; Crow. From the Life and Songs of
the Crow, PRE-PUBLICATION PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION, WITH A LARGE INK
DRAWING OF A SALAMANDAR, dated 20 September 1970, dust-jacket soiled
[Sagar/Tabor A25a.1], 1970; Crow Wakes, LIMITED TO
APPROXIMATELY 230 COPIES, THIS COPY INSCRIBED "AUTHOR'S COPY NO.2"
and signed by Hughes in 2 places, publisher's boards [Sagar/Tabor A28], Poet
& Printer, 1971; Shakespeare's Poem, LIMITED TO 150 COPIES,
stitched as issued in gate-fold wrappers [Sagar/Tabor A30], Lexham Press,
1971; Eclipse, NUMBER 58 OF 250 COPIES [Sagar/Tabor A49],
1976; Sunstruck, NUMBER 272 OF 400 COPIES, [Sagar/Tabor A53],
1977; A Solstice, NUMBER 140 OF 350 COPIES, [Sagar/Tabor A55],
1978, these 3 publisher's wrappers, Knotting, Sceptre Press; Shakespeare
and the Goddess of Complete Being, PRE-PUBLICATION PRESENTATION COPY,
inscription dated 9 March 1992, dust-jacket [Sagar/Tabor A97a.1], 1992; The
Iron Woman, oil stain at upper gutter margin, small loss to spine, without
the dust-jacket [Sagar/Tabor A103a.1], 1993; Difficulties of a
Bridegroom, dust-jacket [Sagar/Tabor A111a.1], 1995, ALL INSCRIBED BY
HUGHES TO HIS SISTER, FIRST EDITIONS and publisher's cloth unless otherwise
stated, 8vo; and 4 others, all inscribed by Hughes to his sister, including 3
works edited by Hughes, and works by W.H. Auden, and Idris Shah (22)
£2,000 - 4,000
€2,300 - 4,600
Lot 330 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Wallet containing seven
membership and ID Cards, including her Boston Public Library card, her Poetry
Society of America membership card, and her driving licence, six of them SIGNED
BY SYLVIA PLATH, together with a small photograph of Sylvia, her mother and
brother seated by a Christmas tree, all loosely inserted in Plath's grey
leather "Lady Buxton Convertible" wallet, signs of wear, one strap
missing, the cards approximately 65 x 95mm., [1950s]
£8,000 - 12,000
€9,100 - 14,000
Lot 331 HUGHES (TED)
Lupercal, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY,
INSCRIBED BY TED HUGHES TO SYLVIA PLATH ("To Sylvia, its true mother, with
all my love, Ted. February 25th 1960, 4th anniversary of St. Botolph's",
on the title-page), a photograph of an unidentified elderly man holding an
enormous mug taped inside the lower cover, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket
(small loss to head of spine) [Tabor/Sagar A3a.1], 8vo, Faber and Faber, 1960
£6,000 - 8,000
€6,900 - 9,100
Lot 332 HUGHES (TED)
Lupercal, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY,
INSCRIBED "To Mom & Dad with love Ted/26th February 1960. Number
2" on title, 2 contemporary newspaper reviews (one by Alvarez from The
Observer), and a photograph (captioned on verso "May -56. Dick
straightup in old age") of 3 people outside the Cross Inn pub at
Heptonstall loosely inserted, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket (spine dulled with
small loss at head, light stain on lower cover) [Sagar/Tabor A3a], 8vo, Faber
and Faber, [1960]
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Lot 333 HUGHES (TED)
Lupercal, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY,
INSCRIBED "To Walter & Alice & Barbara with love from Ted
March 11th, 1960" on the title-page, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket (toned
with small losses at extremities of spine) [Sagar/Tabor A3a.1], 8vo, Faber and
Faber, 1960
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Lot 334 PLATH (SYLVIA)
A Winter Ship, FIRST EDITION, SIGNED BY TED HUGHES, stitched
in original marbled wrappers, title printed in black on label pasted on upper
cover [Tabor A1], 8vo, Edinburgh, Tragara Press, 1960
£1,000 - 1,500
€1,100 - 1,700
Lot 335 TOLKIEN (J.R.R.)
The Lord of the Rings, 3 vol., FIRST EDITIONS, later impressions,
EACH VOLUME INSCRIBED BY TED HUGHES TO SYLVIA PLATH ON HER BIRTHDAY ("To
Sylvia & Frieda with love from Ted, Oct. 27th 1960", on front free
endpapers), 3 folding maps printed in red and black, publisher's cloth,
dust-jackets (spines darkened, a few small stains on upper covers), 8vo, George
Allen, [1960]
£4,000 - 6,000
€4,600 - 6,900
Lot 336 PLATH (SYLVIA)
The Colossus. Poems, FIRST EDITION, spotting to spine [Tabor
A2a], Heinemann, 1960; idem, first American edition, jacket dulled with
sprinkled spotting on lower cover [Tabor A2c.1], New York, Alfred Knopf, 1960,
publisher's cloth, dust-jackets, 8vo; and 4 later editions of The
Colossus (6)
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Not Waving But Drowning, second impression, INSCRIBED TO SYLVIA PLATH
BY TED HUGHES ("To Sylvia with all my love at Xmas 1960 to keep the
draught from the candles. Ted."), illustrations by the author, publisher's
boards, dust-jacket (a few small tears at top edge), 8vo,
Andre Deutsch, January
1958
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
Lot 338 ROETHKE
(THEODORE)
Words for the Wind!, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO SYLVIA PLATH
("For Sylvia Plath - may she read them all! - love, love T.R.)" on
title-page, and BY TED HUGHES TO PLATH ("To Sylvia with all my love from
Ted, Xmas 1960") on front free endpaper, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket (sprinkled
?coffee stains on upper cover), 8vo, Secker & Warburg, 1957
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
Lot 339 JENKINS (ALAN
C.)
White Horse and Black
Bulls, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION
COPY TO SYLVIA PLATH, inscribed "For Sylvia with every good wish and in the
hope that you will stay in Devonshire. Alan" on the half-title, with later
ownership inscription of Frieda Hughes, 1960--GARDNER (ROBERT G.) A
Human Document, NUMBER 7 OF 500 COPIES, INSCRIBED TO TED HUGHES ("Ted
with love from Lisa and Leonard [Baskin]") on the colophon, signed
engraved print by Baskin loosely inserted as published, Gehenna Press,
1964--MACCAIG (NORMAN) Three Manuscript Poems, NUMBER 8 OF 100
COPIES SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, from an overall edition of 300, Exeter, Rougemont
Press, 1969--WRIGHT (CHARLES) Dead Colour, LIMITED TO 285 COPIES,
INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO NICHOLAS HUGHES, 4 woodcut illustrations printed in
colours, San Francisco, Meadow Press, 1980--FAINLIGHT (RUTH) 18 Poems
from 1966, LIMITED TO 150 COPIES, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR "for Ted and
Assia", Turret Books, 1967--Ronsard. Lyrics... Chosen by Mervyn Savill,
OWNERSHIP INSCRIPTION OF TED HUGHES ("Edward James Hughes") and
"Olwyn Hughes. January 1947" on front free endpaper, Alan Wingate,
[1946]--SILLITOE (ALAN) Guzman Go Home and Other Stories, INSCRIBED
TO TED HUGHES "For Ted from Alan", dust-jacket, Macmillan,
1968--STEADMAN (RALPH) I. Leonardo, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO
HUGHES with an original sketch of "a 2 legged Garrumph!", and
inscribed subsequently by Hughes to John Hechtel, dust-jacket, New York,
1983--GUNN (THOM) In the Twilight Slot, NUMBER 30 OF 75 COPIES
SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, with a photographic portrait of the author by Arthur
Tress loosely inserted as issued, slipcase, Enitharmon Press, 1995, publisher's
bindings, various sizes; and others, including works signed by Yehuda
Amichai, Elaine
Feinstein, Ralph Steadman, Ruth Fainlight, and Ted Hughes (21)
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 340 OXFORD BOOK OF
WILD FLOWERS
ARY (S.) AND M.
GREGORY. The Oxford Book of Wild Flowers, FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED
BY TED HUGHES TO SYLVIA PLATH ("To Darling Sylvia from Ted, March 25th
1961", on the front free endpaper), colour illustrations by B.E.
Nicholson, light spotting to endpapers, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket
(slightly frayed at extremities), 4to, Oxford University Press, 1960; together
with a copy of V.J. Stanek's Pictorial Encyclopaedia of the Animal
Kingdom (1962), inscribed "Ted Hughes"
by Sylvia Plath (2)
£1,000 - 2,000
€1,100 - 2,300
Lot 341 HUGHES (TED)
Meet My Folks!, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY TO
SYLVIA PLATH, INSCRIBED "To Sylvia with all my love from Ted, April 1st,
1961", illustrations by George Adamson, publisher's pictorial boards,
dust-jacket [Sagar/Tabor A4], small 4to, Faber and Faber,
1961
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
Poems by Pablo Neruda. Translated by W.S.
Merwin. Produced by Douglas Cleverdon... Third Programme, SYLVIA PLATH'S COPY,
INSCRIBED WITH HER NAME AND ADDRESS in black ink in the upper righthand corner
of the title sheet, 16 typescript sheets (title, and 15 numbered pages of
poems, printed recto only), one letter corrected in black ink on p.2, some
spotting to first and last sheet, small b lack ink spot on first sheet, held by
metal tab upper left (one loose), s mall folio
(330 x 205mm.), 20
December 1960
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Lot 343 BOOK OF COMMON
PRAYER
The Book of Common
Prayer, SYLVIA PLATH'S COPY,
INSCRIBED "Sylvia Hughes, Court Green, 1961" on front free endpaper,
light spotting and toning to endpapers, publisher's cloth, 8vo, Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge, [n.d.]
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
Lot 344 THOMAS (R.S.)
TARES, FIRST EDITION, 1961; Song at the Year's
Turning, fourth impression, 1960, EACH INSCRIBED BY TED HUGHES TO SYLVIA
PLATH ON HER BIRTHDAY ("To Sylvia on her birthday with love from Ted, Oct
27th 1961", on front free endpaper), the first mentioned with
a loosely inserted scrap
of manuscript in Ted Hughes' hand used as a bookmark, both in publisher's
boards, the second mentioned in a dustjacket, 8vo, Rupert Hart-Davis (2)
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
Lot 345 COURT GREEN,
DEVON
A child's nursery elbow
chair, PAINTED BY SYLVIA PLATH, with coloured flower and heart pattern
over a white ground, 470mm. x 280mm. x 290mm., together with 3 balls of the red
wool used for the original woven seat
£3,000 - 5,000
€3,400 - 5,700
Lot 346 COURT GREEN,
DEVON
A circular cane and
glass top occasional table, from Heals, on slender metal legs, diameter 740mm.,
[early 1960s]
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 347 COURT GREEN,
DEVON
A Wilton carpet of
traditional Persian design with central medallion and palmette border, 3700 x
2740mm.
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
A Victorian mahogany
armchair, with hoop back, re-upholstered in buttoned salmon draylon, on scroll
legs
£1,000 - 1,500
€1,100 - 1,700
Lot 349 PLATH (SYLVIA)
A Victorian mahogany
twin handled butler's tray, on a later ebonised low stand, the tray
approximately 79 x 520mm.
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
LOT 350 PLATH (SYLVIA)
A late Victorian ash
pedestal desk, used by Sylvia Plath, in three parts, and fitted with nine
drawers, 1300 x 580mm.
£4,000 - 6,000
€4,600 - 6,900
Lot 351 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Sylvia Plath's 2-piece
cane fishing rod, made by Forrest & Sons, Kelso, 5 loops, cork handle,
length approximately 1220mm.
£500 - 800
€570 - 910
Lot 352 HUGHES (TED)
A collection of 19
fishing rods (for salmon/trout, river/reservoir) and three reels, belonging to
Ted Hughes, various materials and lengths, housed in 2 old wooden boxes
(collection)
£1,000 - 2,000
€1,100 - 2,300
Lot 353 PLATH (SYLVIA)
A blue hooded jacket,
worn by Frieda Hughes on the day of her christening in March 1962, blue felted
wool, embroidered with floral motifs and decoration, cord ties at neck,
[c.1962]
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 354 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Collection of three
family photographs, comprising: Sylvia Plath wearing the "dragon
pendant" [see lot 319], with baby Nicholas (holding a teddy bear) on her
knee, INSCRIBED BY SYLVIA PLATH on reverse "Rains of Oblivion",
[1962]; Frieda Hughes, aged 2, standing by shelves of toys wearing her blue
christening jacket [see above], INSCRIBED BY PLATH on reverse "Court
Green/Frieda on her Christening Day March 25, 1962", 65 x 65mm., [1962];
Sylvia Plath leaning over baby Frieda in her pram, INSCRIBED BY TED HUGHES on
reverse "Frieda Hughes - 3 weeks old", 60 x 60mm., [April 1960] (3)
£3,000 - 5,000
€3,400 - 5,700
Lot 355 NEW POETRY
The New Poetry. A Selection Selected and Introduced by A.
Alvarez, FIRST EDITION, SYLVIA PLATH'S COPY, INSCRIBED TO HER WITH A DRAWING BY
TED HUGHES, AND MARKED UP BY PLATH, half-title with Plath's name and Devon
address in her own hand, above a large
drawing by Hughes of a
crowned serpent (incorporating the inscription "For Sylvia All My Love
Ted") with its tail trailing past the sun with a rain cloud and flash of
lightning either side, stars and the moon near the serpent's head, publisher's
wrappers [Sagar/Tabor B11], 8vo, Penguin Books, 1962
£3,000 - 5,000
€3,400 - 5,700
Lot 356 HUGHES (TED) AND
THOMAS GUNN
Selected Poems, FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY FROM TED
HUGHES TO SYLVIA PLATH, INSCRIBED "To darling Sylvia on the 10th of May,
1962. all my love Ted" with an ink drawing of a fox on the half-title,
publisher's wrappers, a few small creases [Sagar/Tabor A5], 8vo, Faber and
Faber, [1962]
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
Lot 357 [PLATH (SYLVIA)]
JONES (JUDITH B.) Typed
letter signed ("Judith Jones"), to Sylvia Plath, regretting that
Plath "must be feeling terribly neglected", but that she had held off
writing earlier in the hope of enclosing more reviews for Plath's Colossus which
had sadly been unforthcoming, lambasting "self-involved" poets who
"can't even respond to a complimentary prepublication copy of a first
collection as good as yours", but enclosing [present with this lot] the
rather negative note of reply from Marianne Moore, before expanding on reasons
that more reviews had not yet appeared in the "little magazines",
before ending that she is "very anxious to hear about how you're coming
along with your novel. Wasn't September supposed to be your target date?",
2 pages (one on Knopf headed paper), 3 small corrections in ink, 4to, New York,
30 August 1962; together with 3 copies of reviews for Colossus, and
photocopies of 2 rejection letters for The Bell Jar, one from Jones
at Knopf, the other from Elizabeth Lawrence at Harper & Row (small
quantity)
£1,000 - 1,500
€1,100 - 1,700
Lot 358 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Sylvia Plath's Hermes
3000 typewriter, with serial number 3001432, light green, in original case with
handle, approximately 310 x 330 x 175mm., [1959]
£40,000 - 60,000
€46,000 - 69,000
Lot 359 [PLATH (SYLVIA)]
The Bell Jar by Victoria Lucas, SYLVIA PLATH'S REVISED
PROOF COPY, WITH HER AUTOGRAPH CORRECTIONS, AND INSCRIBED WITH HER NAME AND
ADDRESS on the first page in black ink, corrections and revisions by Plath to
approximately 70 pages in blue
ink, publisher's
wrappers, lettered "(Not for Sale) Uncorrected Proof Copy" on the
upper cover, a few small marks and creases, 8vo, Heinemann, [1962]
£50,000 - 70,000
€57,000 - 80,000
Lot 360 [PLATH (SYLVIA)]
The Bell Jar by Victoria Lucas, FIRST EDITION, SYLVIA
PLATH'S OWN COPY, SIGNED AND DATED "CHRISTMAS 1962", WITH HER FITZROY
ROAD ADDRESS on the front free paper, light spotting to extreme edges,
publisher's cloth, pictorial dust-jacket (slightly worn at extremities [Tabor
A4a.1], 8vo, Heinemann, [1963]
£60,000 - 80,000
€69,000 - 91,000
Lot 361 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Typescripts of three
poems, comprising 'The Surgeon at 2 a.m.' (2 copies) and 'By Candlelight', text
on recto only, each with "Sylvia Plath/ Court Green, North
Tawton/Devonshire, England" in upper right hand corner, a few small
marginal creases, folio (280 x 215mm.), [1962] (3)
£1,000 - 1,500
€1,100 - 1,700
Lot 362 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Typescript of the poem 'Little
Fugue', on 2 sheets; with another copy containing only 7 stanzas, and
with additional space between the lines, text on recto only, the first sheet
headed "Sylvia Plath/Court Green/North Tawton/Devonshire, England" in
upper right hand corner, a few small creases at edges, folio (280 x 215mm.),
[1962] (2)
£500 - 800
€570 - 910
Lot 363 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Typescript of the poem 'The
Couriers', text on recto only, headed "Sylvia Plath/Court Green/North
Tawton/Devonshire, England" in upper right hand corner, a few small
creases at edges, folio (280 x 215mm.), [1962]
£500 - 800
€570 - 910
Lot 364 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Typescript of the poem 'Poppies
in October', text on recto only, headed "Sylvia Plath/Court Green/North
Tawton/Devonshire, England" in upper right hand corner, a few small
marginal creases, folio (280 x 215mm.), [1962]
£500 - 800
€570 - 910
Lot 365 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Typescript of the poem 'Totem',
text on recto only, headed "Sylvia Plath/Court Green/North Tawton/Devon,
England" in upper right hand corner, a few small marginal at edges, folio
(280 x 215mm.), [1963]
£500 - 800
€570 - 910
Lot 366 HUGHES (TED)
A collection of works,
mostly poetry, inscribed by Ted Hughes to his sister Olwyn, including: HUGHES
(TED) AND THOM GUNN, editors. Five American Poets, inscribed
"To Sooze from Hooze pour t'amooze - in intervals of the booze",
1963--DICKINSON (EMILY) A Choice of... Verse Selected with an Introduction by Ted Hughes,
inscribed 22 March 1969, 1969; Selected Poems and Letters, inscribed 26 August
1960, 1960--AUDEN (W.H.) Some Poems, ownership inscription
"Edward James Hughes. March - 1948", and inscribed in green ink by
Hughes "To Olwyn", 1946--The Faber Book of Aphorisms... Selection
by W.H. Auden and Louis Kronenberger, inscribed "Christmas 1964",
dust-jacket, 1964--STEVENS (WALLACE) The Collected Poems, inscribed
"To Olwyn from Ted", dampstained, 1955--HOPKINS (GERARD MANLEY) Poems,
inscribed "23/8/[19]49", [1949]--The College Chaucer,
inscribed "To Olwyn from Ted", New Haven, [1929]--Persian Paintings
in the John Rylands Library, inscribed "Xmas 1980", 1980, publisher's
bindings, some worn, 8vo; and 3 others, including copies of The Aeneid,
a volume of Keats' poems inscribed by a young Olwyn Hughes (heavily annotated,
with several drawings), and a copy of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam belonging
to Ted Hughes, with his transcription of the W.B. Yeats poem 'The Stolen Child'
on one of the endpapers (12)
£200 - 400
€230 - 460
Lot 367 HUGHES (TED)
How the Whale Became, first American edition, THE DEDICATION COPY,
INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO HIS SON NICHOLAS, illustrations by Rick Shreiter
[Sagar/Tabor A6b], New York, Atheneum, 1964; Meet My Folks, FIRST
EDITION, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR "To Nicky love from Dad" on front
free endpaper (slight offsetting of ink onto inside flap) [Sagar/Tabor A4a],
Faber, 1964; Crow. From the Life and Songs of the Crow, FIRST
EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed "For Nick the original of
Crow Vs Cronos & Bran, Demon of the British Isles love from Dad,
October 1970", with a doodled ink drawing of a crow on the front free
endpaper [Sagar/Tabor A24a], Faber, 1970; Collected Animal Poems. Volumes 1-4,
in 1vol., ONE OF 292 UNCORRECTED PROOF COPIES, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR
"For Nicholas, Many beasts that escaped the albion, and some that didn't
love Daddy", publisher's wrappers [Sagar/Tabor A112a.1], Faber, 1995, the
first 3 mentioned in publisher's cloth, dustjackets, FINE COPIES, 8vo and small
4to (4)
£500 - 800
€570 - 910
Lot 368 HUGHES (TED)
Nessie the Mannerless
Monster, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S
PRESENTATION COPY TO HIS PARENTS, INSCRIBED "For Mom & Dad with
love from Ted April 27th 1964" above a large ink drawing on the front free
endpaper, colour illustrations throughout by Gerald Rose, publisher's pictorial
boards, dust-jacket (slightly rubbed at extremities) [Sagar/Tabor A8a], small
oblong 4to, Faber and Faber, 1964
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Ariel, FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY FROM TED
HUGHES TO HIS PARENTS, inscribed "To Mam & Dad with love
Ted", publisher's cloth, dust-jacket [Tabor A5a], 8vo, Faber and Faber,
1965
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
Lot 370 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Ariel, FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY TED HUGHES
"To Michael with my very best wishes from Ted, Christmas 1965" on
front free endpaper, publisher's cloth, light speckled stains to extreme lower
edge, dust-jacket (short tears to edges of upper cover, slight loss to head of
spine) [Tabor A5a], 8vo, Faber and Faber, 1965
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 371 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Ariel, FIRST EDITION, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket
designed by Berthold Wolpe, VERY FINE COPY [Tabor A5a], Faber and Faber, 1965;
idem, FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, introduction by Robert Lowell, publisher's cloth,
dust-jacket (upper cover with a few marks, and small scuffmark at fore-edge)
[Tabor A5b], New York, Harper & Row, 1966; and copies of the first
edition paperbacks (4)
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 372 HUGHES (TED)
Animal Poems, UNIQUE PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY THE
AUTHOR TO HIS SON, WITH 9 AUTOGRAPH POEMS, interleaved, with the additional
manuscript poems written in black ink on 10 pages (including the title),
manuscript correction by Hughes to one printed poem ("Otter"), green
morocco gilt by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, g.e., slipcase [Sagar/Tabor
A13], 4to, [Richard Gilbertson, [1967]
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
A collection of books
relating to mysticism, the Kabbalah, astrology, etc., belonging to Hughes,
comprising: The New Waite's Compendium of Natal Astrology... by
Colin Evans, with note "All
Midday" in Hughes's
hand on p.177, and a loosely inserted 1-page MANUSCRIPT HOROSCOPE BY HUGHES
(298 x 214mm.), spine detached, 1953--SCHOLEM (GERSHOM G.) On the
Kabbalah and its Symbolism, dust-jacket, 1965--KNIGHT (GARETH) A Practical
Guide of Qabalistic Symbolism, 2 vol., dust-jacket on volume 2 only,
1965--BARDON (FRANZ) The Key to the True Quabbalah, dustjacket,
Wuppertal, 1971--LETHBRIDGE (T.C.) Witches. Investigating an
Ancient Religion, 1962--BUTLER (W.E.) Magic and the Qabalah,
dustwrappers, 1971--The I Ching or Book of Changes, vol. 1 only,
inscribed "to Ted. November '64 with love from Ruth & Alan
[Sillitoe], 1960--STURZAKER (JAMES) Kabbalistic Aphorisms, 1971--The
Tibetan Book of the Dead [translated by W.Y. Evans-Wentz], 1957, ALL
SIGNED BY TED HUGHES, except the third to last, and the last 2 mentioned which
have Hughes's name inscribed by Assia Wevill, unless otherwise stated in
publisher's cloth, some wear, 8vo; and 2 others, including a 1971 edition
of The New Waite's Compendium with 2 annotations by Hughes,
and a 1966 edition of the I Ching inscribed "To Olwyn
[Hughes] with love from Ted Xmas 1967" (12)
£1,000 - 2,000
€1,100 - 2,300
Lot 374 [HUGHES (TED)]
BALDWIN (MICHAEL) Miraclejack,
FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED "For Ted Hughes with
best wishes Michael Baldwin Aug 1963", with a note of thanks from Baldwin
to Hughes for his review in the 'Listener' of another of his books loosely
inserted, dust-jacket (some small losses), 1963--SCIGAI (LEONARD M.) Ted
Hughes, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, Boston, 1991--OSHIMA (SHOTARO, editor) A
Book of English Poetry (From Chaucer to Living Poets), PRESENTATION
NOTE TO HUGHES FROM THE EDITOR, Tokyo, Hokuseido Press, 1973, publisher's cloth,
dust-jackets-- JOZSEF (ATTILA) Poems. Edited by Thomas Kabdebo,
INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO HUGHES, dampstains, cloth-backed paper wrappers,
Danubia Book Co., 1966--BACKSTROM (LARS) Den som flyr det privata
kan inte forsta det allmanna... Including Three Poems in English,
AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY TO HUGHES, publisher's wrappers, 1971--JANOS
(PILENSKY) Nagyvarosi ikonok, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY TO HUGHES,
publisher's boards, dust-jacket, 1970--VILHJAMLMSSON (THOR) Images,
LIMITED TO 250 COPIES SIGNED, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO HUGHES, Reykjavik,
1985, 8vo; and 8 others, of which 6 inscribed by the authors, and one with the
ownership inscription of Hughes (15)
£200 - 400
€230 - 460
Lot 375 HUGHES (TED)
The Iron Man. A Story in
Five Nights, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S
PRESENTATION COPY TO THE DEDICATEE, INSCRIBED "To Nicky from Dad 31st Jan
1968" on the front free endpaper, illustrations by George Adamson,
publisher's cloth, dust-jacket [Sagar/Tabor A17a], 4to, Faber and Faber, 1968
£1,000 - 1,500
€1,100 - 1,700
Lot 376 HUGHES (TED)
The Iron Giant. A Story
in Five Nights, FIRST AMERICAN
EDITION, INSCRIBED BY HUGHES TO ONE OF THE DEDICATEES ("For Nicky love
from Dad"), illustrations by Robert Nadler, publisher's pictorial boards,
dust-jacket (small tears at head of spine) [Sagar/Tabor A17b], small 4to, New
York, Harper & Row, 1968
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
The Bell Jar, small piece cut away from upper fore-corner of
front free endpaper [Tabor A4a.3], 1966; idem, paperback edition, 1966, each
signed by Frieda Hughes; idem, [Tabor A4b], New York, 1971; Crossing
the Water, [Tabor A11a], 1971; idem, light marks at gutter margins of
endpapers [Tabor A11b], New York, 1971; Winter Trees, [Tabor A15a],
1971; idem, [Tabor A15b], New York, 1972; Johnny Panic and the
Bible of Dreams, introduction by Ted Hughes [Tabor A21a], 1977; idem,
[Tabor A21b], New York, 1979--Sylvia Plath: Drawings. Introduced by
Frieda Hughes, signed by Frieda Hughes, 2013, unless otherwise stated publisher's
cloth with dust-jackets, 8vo; and 3 others, including copy 121 (of 400)
of Lyonnesse, Rainbow Press, 1971 (13)
£300 - 400
€340 - 460
Lot 378 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Uncollected Poems, LIMITED TO 150 COPIES, publisher's stiff card,
pictorial wrappers (light spotting at fore-edges) [Tabor A6], Turret,
[1965]; Fiesta Melons... Introduction by Ted Hughes, NUMBER 11 OF
75 COPIES SIGNED BY TED HUGHES, from an overall edition of 150,
illustrations by Plath,
publisher's cloth, dust-jacket [Tabor A10], 1971; Child, NUMBER 21
OF 325 COPIES, facsimile of original manuscript [Tabor A16], 1971, Exeter,
Rougemont Press; Lyonnesse, NUMBER 399 OF 400 COPIES, publisher's
calf-backed boards, slipcase [Tabor A13], The Rainbow Press, 1971; Two
Uncollected Poems, NUMBER 25 OF 450 COPIES, [Tabor A23], Anvil Press,
Poetry, 1980; Two Poems, NUMBER 250 OF 300 COPIES, [Tabor
A22], Knotting, Sceptre Press, 1980; A Day in June, NUMBER 158 OF
160 COPIES, [Tabor A24], 1981; The Green Rock, NUMBER 140 OF 160
COPIES, [Tabor A28], 1982. Ely, Embers Press; To Eva Descending the
Stair, colour lithographed plate signed by Ralph Steadman, on folded card
with printed wrapper (slightly frayed), Steam Press, [1974]; Above
the Oxbow. Selected Writings, NUMBER 21 OF 325 COPIES, signed in
pencil by the illustrator, 4 wood-engraved illustrations by Barry Moser,
publisher's cloth-backed boards, Northampton, Catawba Press, 1985; The
Magic Mirror. A Study of the Double in Two of Dostoevsky's Novels,
LIMITED TO 226 COPIES, THIS COPY SIGNED BY TED HUGHES on the colophon, this
copy 108 but also marked by Hughes as "Copy R", publisher's
cloth-backed boards, dust-jacket, Rhiwargor, Powys, Embers Handpress, 1989, 8vo
and small 4to (11)
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Lot 379 HUGHES (TED)
Eat Crow, NUMBER 4 OF 150 COPIES, frontispiece by
Leonard Baskin [Sagar/Tabor A31], 1971; Poems [with Ruth
Fainlight, and Alan Sillitoe], NUMBER 282 OF 300 COPIES, [Sagar/Tabor A29],
1971; Prometheus on His Crag, NUMBER 25 OF 160 COPIES,
illustrations by Leonard Baskin [Sagar/Tabor A39], [1973]; Spring,
Summer, Autumn, Winter, NUMBER 50 OF 140 COPIES, slight splitting to
slipcase [Sagar/Tabor A44a], 1974; Earth-Moon, NUMBER 38 OF 226
COPIES, illustrations by the author, ownership inscription of Frieda Hughes
[Sagar/Tabor A48], 1976; Orts, NUMBER 161 OF 200 COPIES,
frontispiece by Leonard Baskin [Sagar/Tabor A56], 1978; Adam and the
Sacred Nine, NUMBER 166 OF 200 COPIES, frontispiece by Leonard Baskin
[Sagar/Tabor A59], 1979; Remains of Elmet, NUMBER 123 OF 180 COPIES,
photographic illustrations by Fay Godwin [Sagar/Tabor A60], 1979; Henry
Williamson. A Tribute, NUMBER 190 OF 200 COPIES, frontispiece, publisher's
wrappers [Sagar/Tabor A68], 1979, ALL SIGNED BY TED HUGHES, publisher's cloth
or leather and slipcase unless otherwise stated, 8vo and 4to, Rainbow Press (9)
£800 - 1,200
€910 - 1,400
Lot 380 PLATH (SYLVIA)
A collection of books,
pamphlets and magazines with contributions by, or about Sylvia Plath,
including: Writers on Themselves... Introduction by Herbert
Read, with contributions by Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, SIGNED BY TED HUGHES
on the front free endpaper, with a small annotation in his hand on p.37, and
later annotation by Frieda Hughes, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket (soiled with
some loss), B.B.C., 1964--Cambridge Review, vol. 90. No.2187, poem by
Plath, and articles by A. Alvarez and others, Cambridge, 1969--STEVENSON
(ANNE) Bitter Fame. A Life of Sylvia Plath, UNCORRECTED PROOF WITH
4 CORRECTIONS BY OLWYN HUGHES, some gatherings loose, publisher's wrappers,
Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1989--PLATH (SYLVIA) Stings. Original Drafts
of the Poem in Facsimile... With an Essay by Susan R. Van Dyne,
signed by Frieda Hughes, Northampton, Mass., Smith College, 1982-- KYLE
(BARRY) Sylvia Plath. A Dramatic Portrait... Directed by David
Addenbrooke, The Western Australia Theatre Company Programme, [1976]--Guinness
Poetry Award 1960-1961. Winning Poems, including Plath's poem 'Insomniac',
[Cheltenham Festival of Arts and Literature, 1961]--Poetry at The Mermaid.
Souvenir Programme, includes 'Tulips' by Plath, and Hughes's 'My Uncle's
Wound', contents working loose, publisher's wrappers, [1961]--Poetry 1970.
Edited by Damian Grant. Critical Quarterly... No. 11, includes
poems by Plath and Hughes, 1970--Gemini, vol. 1, No.1, includes Plath's 'Spinster'
and 'Vanity Fair', [1957], publisher's wrappers, 8vo and small 4to; and 11
others, including issues of The London Magazine (4), The
Centennial Review, Tri-Quarterly, Critical Quarterly and Supplement (3),
and American Poetry Now, edited by Plath and signed by Frieda
Hughes (21)
£200 - 400
€230 - 460
Three Women. A Monologue
for Three Voices... with an
Introduction by Douglas Cleverdon, ONE OF 5 SPECIALLY PRINTED COPIES,
from an overall edition of 185 copies, SIGNED BY TED HUGHES on the front free
endpaper, half-title, frontispiece, woodcut illustration of flowers and woodcut
initials designed, engraved and printed from woodblocks by Stanislaw Gliwa, the
opening large initial "T" of this copy hand-painted in red ink, the
text in red and black, publisher's morocco-backed pictorial boards,
gilt-lettered on spine [Tabor A3b.2], small folio (340 x 235mm.), Turret Books,
1968; sold with a window-mounted woodcut print of the 'Three Women' by Gliwa
(2)
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Lot 382 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Three Women. A Monologue
for Three Voices... With an
Introductory Note by Douglas Cleverdon, NUMBER 164 OF 180 COPIES, frontispiece
woodcut and initials by Stanislaw Gliwa, publisher's pictorial cloth gilt
[Tabor A3a], Privately Printed at Oficyna Stanislawa Gliwy, for Turret Books,
1968; Lyonnesse. Poems, NUMBER 41 OF 90 COPIES IN FULL CALF by Zaehnsdorf, from
an overall edition of 400, slipcase [Tabor A13], Printed by Will and Sebastian
Carter, at the Rampant Lions Press, for Rainbow Press, 1971, 4to; Two Poems,
NUMBER 74 OF 75 "SPECIAL COPIES" (10mm. taller, and differing
coloured wrappers than the standard copies), publisher's wrappers [Tabor A22],
8vo, Knotting, Beds, The Sceptre Press, 1980 (3)
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 383 HUGHES (TED)
The Coming of the Kings
and Others Plays, INSCRIBED ON THE DAY
OF PUBLICATION, 21 September 1970, dust-jacket by Quentin Blake [Sagar/Tabor
A23], 1970; Lupercal, later issue, inscription dated "May
1970", wrappers, 1970; Poetry in the Making, first American
edition, PRE-PUBLICATION INSCRIPTION dated 21 September 1970 [Sagar/Tabor
A14b], New York, 1970; Seneca's Oedipus. Adapted by Ted Hughes,
first American edition, inscription dated December 1972 [Sagar/Tabor A16d], New
York, 1972; Moon-Whales and Other Moon Poems, PRE-PUBLICATION
INSCRIPTION dated 27 October 1976 [Sagar/Tabor A50], New York, 1976; Gaudette,
PRE-PUBLICATION INSCRIPTION dated 22 April 1977, short tears to dust-jacket,
1977; Moon-Bells and Other Poems, inscription dated February 1978,
publisher's pictorial boards [Sagar/Tabor A54], 1978; Remains of Elmet...
Photographs by Fay Godwin, first trade edition, inscription dated 24 May 1979,
wrappers [Sagar/Tabor A60b], 1979; Moortown, inscription dated
"October 1979", wrappers [Sagar/Tabor A67], 1979; Flowers and
Insects, inscription dated November 1986, colour illustrations by Leonard
Baskin [Sagar/Tabor A91], 1986; Wolfwatching, INSCRIBED ON DAY OF
PUBLICATION, "... Did we hit?/Or did we miss?/How do we come/To be doing
this?..." [Sagar/Tabor A95], 1989; A Dancer to God. Tributes
to T.S. Eliot, PRE-PUBLICATION INSCRIPTION dated 26 August 1992 [Sagar/Tabor
A99], 1992; The Essential Shakespeare, inscribed "9th March
1992", New York, 1992; Three Books, inscription dated "June
1993", wrappers, 1993; Elmet... [with] Photographs by Fay
Godwin, second trade edition, inscribed "New Year 1995", light
dampstain at lower margin [Sagar/Tabor A60c], 1994; A March Calf,
later issue, inscription dated "October 1995", wrappers, creased,
1995, ALL INSCRIBED BY HUGHES TO HIS SISTER OLWYN, unless otherwise stated
first editions, publisher's cloth, dust-jackets, 8vo and 4to; and 3 others by
Hughes, or with contributions by him, all inscribed to Olwyn Hughes, together
with 4
unsigned books and a
photograph by Fay Godwin, signed by her on the mount and on verso of frame, 122
x 158mm. (24)
£800 - 1,200
€910 - 1,400
Animal Poems, SIGNED AND DATED "Ted Hughes 25 Sept.
1971", also signed by Frieda Hughes, and embellished by her with
illustrations on 2 pages of a fantastical creature and a bird in black ink,
limited to 100 copies (this possibly a proof copy, not signed on colophon),
contents loose in salmon pink printed wrappers [cf. Sagar/Tabor A13],
[Crediton, Richard Gilbertson, 1967]; Poems... Linocuts, AUTHOR'S
PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED "To Olwyn with love from Ted, 22d March
1969", 6 colour plates by Gavin Robbins, publisher's boards [not in
Sagar/Tabor], Bartholomew Books, Exeter College of Art, 1968; Rain-Charm
for the Duchy... for the Christening of His Royal Highness Prince Harry...
[Commissioned by the Westcountry Rivers Trust], publisher's cloth-backed
marbled boards, [Gwynedd, Embers Handpress, 2009]; Season Songs... Pictures
by Leonard Baskin, first American edition, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY,
inscribed "Happy New Year to Leonard [Baskin] from Ted, 1 January
1977", colour plates, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket [Sagar/Tabor A44b],
New York, 1975; idem, another copy, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, New York, 1975; Shakespeare's
Poem, NUMBER 116 OF 175 COPIES SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, publisher's wrappers
and gate-fold sleeve [Tabor A30], [Lexham Press, 1971]--HODGKIN
(M.R.,editor) Young Winter's Tales [with contribution by
Hughes], TED HUGHES'S COPY, with printed slip dated 25 October 1973 loosely
inserted, additionally inscribed by Frieda Hughes, publisher's cloth,
dust-jacket, Macmillan, 1973--Modern Poetry in Translation, No.1, 2
copies, edited by Hughes and Daniel Weissbort, together with original
typescript order slip, disbound, [1965]--Oedipus by Seneca. Translated
by Hughes, typescript, remnant of agency label of Olwyn Hughes, blue wrappers,
[n.d.]--Raritan. A Quarterly Review, vol. 14, no. 2 [including: Ted Hughes.
On Sylvia Plath], ANNOTATED AND CORRECTED BY HUGHES in at least 12 places,
publisher's wrappers, New Brunswick, 1994, various sizes; and 17 other items
by, or relating to Ted Hughes (27)
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Lot 385 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Pursuit. With an Etching & Drawings by Leonard
Baskin, NUMBER 37 OF 100 COPIES, etched plate by Baskin (numbered in pencil,
not signed) loosely inserted as issued, illustrations in the text (some
full-page), original green morocco by Zaehnsdorf, t.e.g., slipcase [Tabor A17],
1973; Dialogue Over a Ouija Board, NUMBER 135 OF 140 COPIES,
frontispiece by Leonard Baskin, publisher's limp vellum, slipcase [Tabor A25],
1981; Lyonnesse, NUMBER 289 OF 400 COPIES, original quarter leather
by Davis & Hodges, slipcase [Tabor A13], 1971, [Will and Sebastian
Carter at Rampant Lion Press for] The Rainbow Press; Crystal Gazer and
Other Poems, NUMBER 178 OF 400 COPIES, vignette on title, one plate after
Sylvia Plath, original cloth-backed patterned boards by Zaehnsdorf, slipcase
[Tabor A9], [Daedalus Press] for The Rainbow Press, 1971, 8vo and 4to (4)
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Lot 386 HUGHES (TED)
Crow. From the Life and
Songs of the Crow, NUMBER 242 OF 400
COPIES, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR, 12 plates by Leonard Baskin,
publisher's cloth, slipcase with printed label on upper cover, small folio,
Faber and Faber, 1973
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 387 RAINBOW AND
MORRIGU PRESSES
HUGHES (TED) Moortown
Elegies, COPY "M" OF THE 32 COPIES- BOUND IN FULL MOROCCO, from
an overall edition of 175 copies, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR "for Olwyn. Ted
Hughes" on the colophon, one full-page illustration by Leonard Baskin,
original full crushed morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, illustration of
a bull blocked in gilt on upper cover, t.e.g., slipcase [Sagar/Tabor 57a],
folio (335 x 235mm.), Rampant Lion Press, for The Rainbow Press, 1978; and a
group of six Morrigu Press pamphlet publications, ALL INSCRIBED BY TED (AND
NICHOLAS) TO OLWYN HUGHES, all with some light dampstaining (7)
£800 - 1,200
€910 - 1,400
Lot 388 HUGHES (TED)
Moortown Elegies, ONE OF 6 SPECIALLY BOUND AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION
COPIES, this for Nicholas Hughes (as stated on the colophon), from an overall
edition of 175, copies, one full-page illustration by Leonard Baskin, original
full crushed morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, illustration of a bull
blocked in gilt on upper cover, t.e.g., slipcase [Sagar/Tabor 57a], folio (335
x 235mm.), Rampant Lion Press, for The Rainbow Press, 1978
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 389 BASKIN (LEONARD)
Portrait of Ted Hughes,
with a Crow and Pike, cast bronze plaque, half-length, Hughes, the crow
and the pike all in profile, inscribed in the field 'Ted Hughes A[e]t sui 47,
Amicus Meus Baskin 1978', approximately 850 x 570mm., [1978]
£6,000 - 8,000
€6,900 - 9,100
A fine archive relating
to the Morrigu Press, including publications by Ted Hughes, printed ephemera,
and manuscript material, materials loose within a proof gilt-blocked vellum
binding (for the Rainbow Press publication "Moortown Elegies"), various
sizes, [c.1979-1983] (quantity)
£4,000 - 8,000
€4,600 - 9,100
Lot 391 HUGHES (TED)
A Primer of Birds. Woodcuts by Leonard Baskin, ONE OF 225 COPIES
SIGNED BY BOTH AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR, ADDITIONALLY INSCRIBED BY HUGHES TO HIS
SISTER ("For Olwyn with love Xmas 1981 from Carol and Ted") on front
free endpaper, and with a 19-LINE AUTOGRAPH POEM on blank leaf at end, 6
woodcut plates (one printed in colours) by Baskin, publisher's marbled boards,
printed label on upper cover [Sagar/Tabor A76], tall 8vo, Gehenna Press, 1981
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Lot 392 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Collected Poems. Edited by Ted Hughes, PRESENTATION COPY FROM
TED HUGHES, inscribed "For Oona and Terence [McCaughey] with much love
from Ted, January 1982" above a note citing mistakes on 3 pages (with
corresponding corrections within the text itself), small black ink dash beside
several poem titles in the listing of Plath's own prepared order of the
"Ariel" poems on p.295, publisher's cloth, dustjacket (rubbed with a
few small creases) [Tabor A26a.1], 8vo, Faber and Faber, 1981
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 393 HUGHES (TED)
'A Bundle of Birds',
AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPTS OF 23 'BIRD' POEMS in one volume, inscribed on
paste-downs "A Bundle of Birds for Olwyn with love from Ted... Poems by
Ted Hughes. Book by Nicholas", 24 pages, and with list contents (12 poems
at front, 11 at back) on paste-downs, black ink on paper, original cloth-backed
boards, titled in ink "A Bundle of Birds by Ted Hughes" on upper
cover, small 8vo (132 x 104mm.), [1982]
£4,000 - 6,000
€4,600 - 6,900
Lot 394 HUGHES (TED)
Ted Hughes's Silver-Reed
500 typewriter, green body, in original plastic case with handle, approximately
440 x 380 x 120mm., [1980s]
£4,000 - 6,000
€4,600 - 6,900
Ted Hughes's writing
table, and chair, the "refectory-type" table with triple plank top on
end supports united by a stretcher, approximately 1420 x 623mm.; the Victorian
elm and ash farmhouse armchair, with high spindle back and saddle seat (2)
£8,000 - 12,000
€9,100 - 14,000
Lot 396 HUGHES (TED)
A pale oak lectern, made
for Hughes by his son Nicholas, the reading/writing slope on a tapered
hexagonal column and tripod base, approximately 1330mm. high
£1,000 - 1,500
€1,100 - 1,700
Lot 397 PLATH (SYLVIA)
The Pulitzer Prize in Poetry:
Award Certificate for 'The Collected Poems', on cream paper with Pulitzer gold
seal, signed by Pulitzer President Michael Sovern, mounted in original blue
morocco folder, blindstamped Pulitzer seal on upper cover, blue watered silk
endpapers, 223 x 265mm., 12 April 1982; together with 2 telegrams from Sovern
sent on 13 April to Ted Hughes, at Court Green in Devon, announcing the award
of the prize; and a typed letter signed by Sovern on 30 April enclosing the
Prize certificate (4)
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,300 - 3,400
A case of twelve bottles
of 'Laureate's Choice' sherry, each with label designed, numbered and signed by
Ted Hughes (these bottles numbered 181-192), together in the original box,
printed with Hughes's design on the side, [1984]
£800 - 1,200
€910 - 1,400
Lot 399 SHERRY -
LAUREATE'S CHOICE
Three bottles of 'Laureate's
Choice' sherry, each with label designed, numbered and signed by Ted Hughes
(these bottles 403-405), [1984]
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 400 SHERRY -
LAUREATE'S CHOICE
Two bottles of 'Laureate's
Choice' sherry, each with label designed, numbered and signed by Ted Hughes
(these bottles 147 and 250), [1984]
£200 - 300
€230 - 340
Lot 401 SHERRY -
LAUREATE'S CHOICE
A bottle of 'Laureate's
Choice' sherry, with label designed, numbered and signed by Ted Hughes (this
bottle 339), [1984]
£100 - 200
€110 - 230
Lot 402 HUGHES (TED)
The Best Worker in
Europe, NUMBER 14 OF 156
COPIES SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR AND ARTIST, ADDITIONALLY INSCRIBED BY HUGHES TO HIS
SISTER ("For Olwyn with love from Ted Christmas 1985") on front free
endpaper, and with a 10-LINE AUTOGRAPH POEM on the colophon, 3 woodcut illustrations
(of which one on upper cover) by Charles Jardine, publisher's wrappers
[Sagar/Tabor A89a.2], large 8vo, Designed and Printed by Sebastian Carter, at
the Rampant Lions Press, for the Atlantic Salmon Trust, 1985
£500 - 800
€570 - 910
The Bell Jar, ANNOTATED BY TED HUGHES, with page numbers and
notes on the inner front and rear covers, corresponding with underlined
passages in the text body, annotations in blue biro, text block loose and
split, publisher's wrappers, 8vo, Toronto, New York [etc], Bantam, March 1986
£1,500 - 2,500
€1,700 - 2,900
Lot 404 HEANEY (SEAMUS),
GEORGE MACKAY BROWN, TED HUGHES AND CHRISTOPHER FRY
Four Poets for St.
Magnus, NUMBER 42 OF 106
COPIES, SIGNED BY THE FOUR POETS, one lithographed plate by Bryce Wilson, 5 tipped
in facsimile pages of 4 poems tipped-in, 2 copies of the prospectus loosely
inserted, publisher's vellum-backed pictorial boards, slipcase with
illustration pasted on upper cover [Sagar/Tabor B415], small folio, Orkney,
Elizabeth Graham Scarth at the Breckness Press, 1987
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Lot 405 PLATH (SYLVIA)
Ariel, FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY TED HUGHES
"For John on account of Walrus willy-bones, fangs, claws & skulls.
Greetings from Ted, May 1989" on front free endpaper, publisher's cloth,
dust-jacket, FINE COPY [Tabor A5a], 8vo, Faber and Faber, 1965; together with a
2-page autograph letter dated 30 July [19]88, to "John" (2)
£600 - 800
€690 - 910
Rain-Charm for the Duchy
and Other Laureate Poems,
ONE OF 30 COPIES "reserved for the author", from an overall edition
of 280 copies, signed on the colophon, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY,
INSCRIBED TO HIS SISTER OLWYN WITH A LARGE INK DRAWING on the half-title,
publisher's cloth-backed boards [cf. Sagar/Tabor A98], Faber, 1992; Shakespeare's
Ovid, NUMBER 13 OF 50 DELUXE COPIES SIGNED BY THE HUGHES AND THE
ILLUSTRATOR, WITH AN ORIGINAL ETCHING BY CHRISTOPHER LE BRUN, from an overall
edition of 215 copies, the signed etching loose as issued in portfolio
wrappers, the text publisher's cloth [Sagar/Tabor A110], Enitharmon Press,
1995; Earth Dances. Poems... Chosen & Decorated by
R.J. Lloyd, NUMBER 5 OF 250 COPIES, this copy unsigned, later inscription of
Frieda Hughes, linocut plates by Lloyd, publisher's clothbacked boards
[Sagar/Tabor A106], Old Stile Press, 1994; Tales From Ovid,
ONE OF 10 COPIES "reserved for the author", from an overall edition
of 310 copies, signed by the author, ownership inscription of Frieda Hughes,
publisher's cloth-backed boards, Faber and Faber, 1998, 8vo and 4to (4)
£300 - 500
€340 - 570
Lot 407 [PLATH (SYLVIA)]
About Sylvia. Poems by Diane Ackerman... Ted Hughes, Robert
Lowell... Lithographs by Enid Mark, ONE OF 60 COPIES, THIS ONE OF THE 10 ARTIST'S
PROOF COPIES, 10 colour lithographed plates by Enid Mark, tissue guards, signed
on the colophon by the illustrator, publisher's prospectus and "thank
you" letter from the artist to Ted Hughes loosely inserted, publisher's
wrappers and solander box, the upper cover with inset "cracked
mirror" panel, both designed by Sarah Creighton, folio, Wallingford,
Pennsylvania, The Elm Press, 1996
£400 - 600
€460 - 690
Howls &
Whispers... Etchings by Leonard
Baskin, NUMBER 39 OF 110 COPIES, SIGNED BY BOTH AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR,
PRESENTATION COPY FROM HUGHES TO HIS SON NICHOLAS, INSCRIBED "For Nicholas
- with love from Daddy, 21st August 1998" on front free endpaper, printed
in red and black on hand-made paper, 11 ETCHED PLATES SIGNED AND DATED BY
BASKIN, all printed in colours, tissue guards, publisher's cloth-backed
patterned boards, red morocco gilt spine label, cased in original solander box,
4to (295 x 230mm.), The Gehenna Press, 1998
£1,000 - 1,500
€1,100 - 1,700
So, if you made it
through all that you deserve to take a break! What do you think of it all? Kind
of hard to fathom and process in one sitting. I remember reading the catalogue
and periodically getting so wrapped up in it I kept forgetting to breathe and
my wife kept poking my arm to make sure I was alright! Pretty incredible stuff,
for sure. I have personally long wondered where Plath's copies of The
Bell Jar (Lots 30 and 31) were and to read these descriptions and to
see images of them is really quite moving. (Some of you may remember I did
an April
Fool's post about this very thing back in 2011. And here's the
follow-up to that post, too.)
Happy dreaming. Happy
bidding.
All links accessed 19 December
2017, 22 January 2018, 17 February 2018.